Golf training aid

ABSTRACT

The invention is a device attachable to a golf club which provides feedback, when the ball is struck on a sub-optimal area of the clubface, or at a suboptimal angle. The device is shaped to cover certain areas of the clubface, except the desired striking zone, such that the golf ball strikes the device during an impact resulting from a golf swing with sub-optimal swing path, attack angle or club face angle. The device provides physical and audible feedback, during impact of a golf swing, due to the differing feel and sound generated when the ball impacts the device, rather than the optimal area of the clubface. The device provides visual feedback, as due to the convex shape of the device, a differing golf ball flight is achieved when the golf ball impacts the device rather than the optimal area of the clubface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to golf. More particularly the invention relates to an attachable training aid which provides physical, audible and visual feedback, when the golf ball is struck on a sub-optimal area of the clubface, or with sub-optimal angle of attack or clubface angle, during a golf swing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Many factors affect a golfer's ability to achieve an optimal ball strike during a golf swing, such as club dynamics at the point of impact between the golf club and ball. Key factors relating to club dynamics at impact, amongst others, include angle of attack (the angle that the club approaches the ball immediately prior to impact, measured relative to the ground) and clubface angle at impact (the angle between the target line and the clubface at impact). Golfers often desire to achieve an optimal angle of attack, for example a descending angle of attack when using an iron type club and an ascending angle of attack when using a driver or wood type club. Similarly, golfers often desire to achieve a square clubface angle at impact (clubface perpendicular to target line). Optimal club dynamics immediately prior to impact can result in a golf shot with greater accuracy, distance and consistency.

Golfers often find it difficult to establish when the desired club dynamics, such as angle of attack and clubface angle, have been achieved during a golf shot, due to the relatively short time period over which impact with the golf ball occurs.

The purpose of the present invention is to allow a golfer to utilize various senses, to identify when desired club dynamics at impact have not been achieved, which will result in the golf ball striking the device of this invention, rather than the optimal strike area of the clubface, which is left uncovered by the device, leading to feedback in the form of differing sound, feel and ball flight, as compared to an optimally struck shot. By providing the aforementioned feedback when the club impacts the ball with sub-optimal dynamics, the golfer may learn by repetition to achieve a more optimal strike on a more consistent basis.

In its very broadest aspects, the present invention is a device which can be attached to the clubface of any of the standard golf clubs, including 2 through 9 irons, wedges, hybrids, putters and woods (1 (driver) 2 and 3), which could be produced in various shapes covering various portions of the clubface, which when a golf shot is made with sub-optimal strike, due to factors such as sub-optimal angle of attack, clubface angle or strike position, will cause the golf ball to strike the device rather than the exposed areas of the clubface, resulting in a differing sound, feel and ball flight than would have been achieved if the ball had been struck optimally with the optimal area of the clubface.

The physical, audible and visual feedback given to the golfer on sub-optimal strikes will allow the golfer to identify sub-optimal strikes, and through a process of repetitive training with the device, improve consistency of achieving a more optimal club delivery and strike.

The device may be produced with various convex surface shapes and materials to produce the desired feedback when the golf ball is impacted with a sub-optimal area of the clubface (for example, heel or toe shots) and/or with suboptimal club dynamics (for example, an ascending strike with an iron).

The device may be attached to the clubface via various forms of attachment mechanism, including but not limited to adhesive, magnets, clips or other attachment mechanisms. The device may be removed from the golf club, allowing the golf club to be used without the device, after using the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, attached to a standard golf club.

FIG. 1A shows a side profile view of the preferred embodiment of the invention 6, with an angled surface 5 covering the lower section of the clubface, attached to the golf club 8 with an adhesive backing 7.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention 9, which covers only the toe section of the clubface, designed to provide feedback on golf shots struck out of the toe of the golf club.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention 10, which covers only the heel section of the clubface, designed to provide feedback on golf shots struck out of the heel of the golf club.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention 11, which covers only the lower section of the clubface, designed to provide feedback on golf shots struck out of the lower section of the golf club with an ascending strike angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

A golf swing involves moving the head of a golf club, whether it be an iron or wood type golf club, through a golf ball, catching that golf ball in the center of the clubface. Achieving an optimal golf shot depends on striking the golf ball with certain impact dynamics (for example, the club's angle of attack and clubface angle).

The device of the present invention provides with repeated use, for a correction or improvement in the execution of an optimal strike at impact within the golf swing, by providing feedback when, upon performing a golf shot with sub-optimal impact dynamics, the golf ball strikes the device rather than the optimal area (center) of the clubface, as it would during a golf swing with optimal impact dynamics.

Feedback provided by the device for sub-optimal strikes are a combination of; (1) physical feedback due to vibrations up the golf club shaft being noticeably different than those experienced when the ball is struck optimally and does not contact the device, given the materials used to construct the device, (2) audible feedback due to the sound of the ball impacting the device being noticeably different than the sound experienced when the ball is struck optimally and contacts the clubface rather than the device, and (3) visual feedback as the convex surface shape of the device ensures that when the ball is struck sub-optimally and contacts the device rather than the center of the club, the ball flight is noticeably different (lower, higher, more right or left). The feedback makes the golfer more aware of off-center strikes and strikes with sub-optimal club dynamics at impact, providing an emphasis of the proper swing characteristics through repetition and developing a mental imprinting thereof that the golfer can apply to their golf swing, to achieve optimal strike more consistently.

Referring now to the drawing presented at FIG. 1, showing the preferred embodiment of the invention for an iron type golf club, the present invention is shown generally comprised of a plastic device 1, that has a flat surface that is attached by adhesive to a golf club face 2, and a convex surface which is strategically shaped so that if the golf club impacts the golf ball at certain angles the ball makes contact with the device, rather than the club. The convex shape of the exposed surface of the device 4, ensures that if a golf shot is made with a sub-optimal angle of attack (typically impacts the lower section of the clubface for an iron) then the golf ball will strike the device rather than the clubface and the flight of the golf ball will be noticeably different than if the ball was struck at a more optimal angle of attack, in which case the ball would impact the center of the clubface 3, rather than the device. The shape of the device could be somewhat varied depending on the shape of the clubface, the amount of area required to be covered on the clubface, and the desired impact dynamics.

For example, for an iron type golf club the optimal club dynamics at impact are generally considered to be a descending strike with a square clubface. The preferred embodiment of the invention for an iron type golf club, as per FIG. 1, would allow the ball to make contact with the center of the clubface for such an optimal (descending, square) impact, but given the geometry of the device and its raised and convex shape, if an ascending strike is made (which typically impacts the lower portion of the clubface) then the ball would strike the lower section of the device, as it covers the lower section of the clubface, and the angle between the device and the ball would cause a difference in the trajectory of the ball flight. Similarly, if a strike is attempted with a clubface that is not square (clubface not perpendicular to the target line) then the ball would strike the side section of the device, which would cause the ball flight to be severely right or left, indicating a sub-optimal strike.

The golfer can utilize the present invention which, in the preferred embodiment comes with a protective piece of paper on the adhesive that can be removed when it is time to use the device. At that time, the golfer would remove the protective sheet that covers the adhesive and then, based on the club chosen such as an iron, the device 1 is sized to fit on face of the golf club such that the golfer would apply the device directly to the clubface 3 and compress the device on the clubface wherein the adhesive will cause the device to stick to the clubface. An adhesive is selected such that the device is firmly attached to the clubface but can be removed after the ball is hit. In other words, the device can be peeled off of the club face after use.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention 9, which covers only the toe section of the clubface, designed to provide feedback on golf shots struck out of the toe of the golf club.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention 10, which covers only the heel section of the clubface, designed to provide feedback on golf shots struck out of the heel of the golf club.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention 11, which covers only the lower section of the clubface, designed to provide feedback on golf shots struck out of the lower section of the golf club with an ascending strike angle or out of the lower section of the clubface.

Note that although the invention is shown in various embodiments, other embodiments may be possible using materials other than plastic for the body of the device, and attachment methods other than adhesive, such as magnets, clips or other attachments. Also, the shape of the device could be varied to achieve the function of conforming to the golf clubface while at the same time providing feedback for certain club dynamics at impact, as desired.

The invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

1. A golf training aid comprising a device which is attached to a standard golf club head and covers certain portions of the clubface, with a convex surface shaped in a way, and constructed from such material, that when the golf ball strikes the surface of the device rather than the optimal area of the clubface, a combination of the sound, feel and ball flight of the golf shot are altered as compared to a ball-strike from the optimal area of the clubface, giving the golfer feedback that a sub-optimal strike has occurred.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive backing on one surface of the device to allow attachment to the clubface.
 3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic backing on one surface of the device to allow attachment to the clubface.
 4. The device of claim 1, covering only the lower, heel and toe sections of the clubface with flat surface being attachable to the clubface and convex surface on the opposite side, facing away from the clubface once attached, leaving the optimal strike area of the clubface exposed.
 5. The device of claim 1, covering only the lower section of the clubface with flat surface being attachable to the clubface and convex surface on the opposite side, facing away from the clubface once attached.
 6. The device of claim 1, covering only the heel section of the clubface with flat surface being attachable to the clubface and convex surface on the opposite side, facing away from the clubface once attached.
 7. The device of claim 1, covering only the toe section of the clubface with flat surface being attachable to the clubface and convex surface on the opposite side, facing away from the clubface once attached.
 8. The device of claim 1, constructed from plastic.
 9. The device from claim 1, constructed from metal.
 10. The device from claim 1, constructed from a combination of plastic and metal. 